Hello and welcome back to A Look at Disney. Recently, WDW News Today announced that the British Pavilion at EPCOT is now selling merchandise based on British TV shows such as Monty Python, Downtown Abbey and yes, Doctor Who.
Now I'll freely admit that I know nothing about any of these as I've never watched an episode of Downtown Abbey, I have no interest in Doctor Who (it just doesn't appeal to me) and Monty Python is okay. But my issue isn't with me not being a fan of these things but rather, it almost feels odd to me to see these products in the park, when this is their only repersantion. One can correctly make the argument that they are a part of British culture and some of these such as Doctor Who transcend into international pop culture and World Showcase is about celebrating cultures of the world. But this isn't what comes to my mind, when I think of EPCOT and culture. And you see, this shouldn't surprise me as the Japan pavilion sells merchandise based on anime and Hello Kitty.
I've never liked this either though and I think the big reason is to me, while they are part of their respective culture. They have no actual repersantion in the parks. Maybe if Mickey dressed up as a Doctor for an event or something, this wouldn't bug me as much.
See on the one hand, it doesn't bug me because as they said, they are representative but at the same time, I'd be lying if I didn't say I felt like this was I don't want to say stereotyping but just playing on what the average American knows about these cultures. Yes, I'll admit I am not giving World Showcase enough credit here and that is not fair of me but it's hard for me to not think that, when I see something like this. At best, I'm conflicted here. On the one hand, I get it, on the other hand, I don't like it. What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments! Peace!
Now I'll freely admit that I know nothing about any of these as I've never watched an episode of Downtown Abbey, I have no interest in Doctor Who (it just doesn't appeal to me) and Monty Python is okay. But my issue isn't with me not being a fan of these things but rather, it almost feels odd to me to see these products in the park, when this is their only repersantion. One can correctly make the argument that they are a part of British culture and some of these such as Doctor Who transcend into international pop culture and World Showcase is about celebrating cultures of the world. But this isn't what comes to my mind, when I think of EPCOT and culture. And you see, this shouldn't surprise me as the Japan pavilion sells merchandise based on anime and Hello Kitty.
I've never liked this either though and I think the big reason is to me, while they are part of their respective culture. They have no actual repersantion in the parks. Maybe if Mickey dressed up as a Doctor for an event or something, this wouldn't bug me as much.
See on the one hand, it doesn't bug me because as they said, they are representative but at the same time, I'd be lying if I didn't say I felt like this was I don't want to say stereotyping but just playing on what the average American knows about these cultures. Yes, I'll admit I am not giving World Showcase enough credit here and that is not fair of me but it's hard for me to not think that, when I see something like this. At best, I'm conflicted here. On the one hand, I get it, on the other hand, I don't like it. What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments! Peace!
... What do they mean 'now'. They've been selling the stuff since I got here in Janurary. I mean they've been selling Beatles stuff and Rolling Stones stuff and all that for years now. And Japan has been selling many anime-related stuff since the place first opened (it has a very dedicated section to Pokemon after all).
ReplyDeleteBut the question has to be asked: What does come to mind when you think 'culture at Epcot'? If it's food yeah, they've got that. Hell the International Food and Wine festival gives other countries a chance. Is it 'people aka cast members'? Cos there are international cast members at all four parks (though it does get tiresome explaining the concept that someone that lives in NZ can sound British). Is it the artitecture, which is inaccurate to the point of hilarity (whilst the average American won't notice, I find it baffling that Tudor style buildings are placed next to those clearly found in the Sturat period).
I can understand if the problem is that it feels too commercialised. After all, I don't go to Disney World to buy a Pokemon toy, but a Mickey Mouse doll. So it does seem a bit jarring to see Mickey Mouse stuff next to stuff licesnsed from TV and the like. Still at least it shows the entertainment provided by the other cultures in a way that Americans can understand.
Of course what always bugged me was the Beatles memobellia. I mean I know they were big and did a lot blah blah blah, but they're not the significant to the make-up of modern Britain. They were a band. A big band, yes, but a band. To see them plastered in the shops really does smack of 'well I doubt any of these Americans have heard of Queen or the like, but the Beatles existed and we can market that instead'. That bothers me cos it pigeonholes British music to just one band (two if you count the rolling stones).
I said now because it was just reported on. What you mentioned in your second paragraph is what I think of, when I think of culture. You hit it on the nose, it feels too commercialized and as you said, I don't want to go to EPCOT to buy Pokemon. The music is also annoying.
DeleteThing is, all the things I mentioned are mocked by the World Showcase. It's the Westernized version of other countries food at outrageous prices (seriously I almost fainted when I saw the price of fish and chips next to how little you got), the 'international cast members' thing doesn't work when ICP's work all over the place, and the architecture is 'the most popular landmarks'.
DeleteOdd as it sounds World Showcase really is the 'theme park' version of all the countries, which seems a weird thing to say since it, well, is. But it does take all the spirit and heart of the country and dumbs it down into broad cliches and stereotypes so that people can understand it. I've been to France, and it's a lot more varied then what they have on offer at Epcot. Same for China.
Although saying that Epcot is my favourite park because as generalized and Westernized as it all is, at the very least it's still trying to be multi-cultural and introduces more interesting things to guests. It may be a poor immitation of Japan, but at least it offers the chance for people to educate themselves on other cultures.
Still, you can't blame a country for knowing how to commercalized its history.
Also I really wish they'd put Iraq or Iran or something in World Showcase. I know they have Morrocco, but I think showing something like Iraq might be a cultural experience people need to learn about.
I recall at one point, we were supposed to get Iraq but that's not going to happen today as it'd be deemed to controversial.
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